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JOHN E. BIRCH, or WISXIPEG, MAXITOBA, cannon TRAC TiON-ENGINE.

SPEGIFiCATION' forming part of Letters Patent 1Y0. 288,763, dated November 20. 18 83.

AppllcatiouiiledJnne 8,1883. (X model.)

.To aZZ whom it may concern.-

with hand wheels I, for operation to move 50 Be it known that I, J 0m; EDWARD B ron, the rods 1.- cndwise, and thereby project the of Winnepeg, in the county of Selkirk, in the Province of Manitoba and Domin ion of Canada, yhuveinvented a new and Improved Traction- Eiigine, of which the following is afull, clear,

' and exact description.

The object of my invention is to furnishatraction engiue, either for road or farm work, that can be used upon soft or yielding groinnl. Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, inwhich similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevationof a traction-engine of my improved construction. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view, showing the construction of the endless rails or tracks. Figs. 4, .3, and 6 are detail views.

. The boilerAand other parts-may be of any ordinary character, and mounted upon wheels B B atthe frontand rear.

Above the engine, and supported by stand- 25 ards a a, is a frame,,G, of angle-iron, having its ends curved downward and provided at intervals with rollers b b for support of the endless track. Theendless track is made of sectidn's d d, of the shape shown in Fig. 3, which are connected together by bars or links e, held by rivets or pins passing through the sections (2 at their ends, These links 0 may be made inathe form shown either in Fig. 4 or Fig. 5. The: form shown in Fig. 4 gives 5 rigidity to the endless tracks as they pass be neath the wheels B, and the-form shown in Fig. 5 gives a track flexible in every position. Totho sectional) are attached tics or plates fl'which are preferablymade of wood, and 40 are of suitablelength and width, sons to pro cure a broad bearing upon the ground. 'DCD are wheels, which I call distributing-wheelsfl-hung in the forks of side arms, k, that are supported. at the'forward end of theengine by means of boxesi, which are attached at opposite sides of the boiler A, and to the arms hare connected rods k, that cxtend'to the rear and terminate within the cab of theengine; where they are provided wheels D more or less. I The endless tracks pass beneath the wheels I), and by the inward and outward adjust ment of these wheels, as described, the track is lengthened or shortened--that is, made to hear more or less upon'the ground at either side--for the purpose of turning the engine in either direction, as desired. i At'm, on the sides of the engine, are bars extending outside of ,the ties 01' plates j, and. serving as a means for connection to a plow orother article which is to be drawn along by the engine. The smoke-stack E is'divided at its upper end into two portions, that extend in opposite directions to the ontsideof the endless track, and thence upward above. the track, The driving-shaft upon the engine is provided with fly-wheels n, upon which the track bears, and a chaiirwheel, 0, at each end, from which. chains pass to'chain-wheels upon the axle of the rearwheels, B.

These devices may be applied many ordinary engine, so as to convert it into a-traction-engine for the purposes named:

By the use of thetiesmrplates combined with an endless track in the manner shown;

I obtain an extensive baringsurfa'ce f 'or sup port of the engine upon soft or spongy ground, so that there will be no danger of minng or of the engine becoming useless by the wheels sinking in the ground. As shown the wheels are flanged; but smooth faced wheels resting upon the inner flanges of the tracksection's may be used. I do not limit myself in this respect. I The connecting-links v of the. track sections are slotted, as shown, for making allowancein the travel of the wheels, as in turning, and to insure greater rigidity toilie track'theties f may be seen red upon the track-sections in such manner as to brca i joints with the said sec: tions, as shown at f in Fig. 1. Having thus fully described my invention, I-

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Q5 Patent h 1. :The endless track of a tract1on-eng1ne formed of the channeled and side flanged secti 0115, d, the piyoted bars 6, having a hole at one 4;. The combination, with an endless track end and a slot at the other, and the groundon a traction-engine, of wheels D, adapted to plate-sf, as shown and dose] ibed. be projected more or loss, and thus shorten or 2. The combination, .with the boiler, of the lengthen The ground-bearing 0f the track, as 15 5 boxes '5, arrange-(1 on each side thereof, and described.

(and. forkod arms, 71, provided with 'bearin and carrying Wheels 1), as shown'anddescribedu JOE LE-DKVARD BIRCH.

3. The C(iinnihiLUOh, wiih the arms )1, 2m ranged in boxes i and (mowing wheels D. of l") the rods Ir, havinghumbwiu cu regulate the position. of wheels I), as described.

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